by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — The fourth and final preliminary round of the Yonkers Raceway/Standardbred Owners Association of New York Bonus Trot Series begins Friday night at Yonkers Raceway.

Post time for the nine race card is 7:40 p.m., with the trio of $7,000 Bonus Trot events going as races two, three and six.

Friday night’s first Bonus Trot event includes Saintly Image (Charles Poynton, post six), fresh from a 44-1 Round 3 upset. The four-year-old daughter of Donerail, trained by Poynton for owner Jodie Ince, parlayed a perfect pocket trip into her first win in 11 ’04 tries.

Metro A (Jim Meittinis, post three) prevailed from off the pace in the second round of this series. The 10-year-old Down Under Keystone Gondola gelding, co-owned by trainer David Hrabovsky along with Peter Hrabovsky and Michael Janis, has won four of his 10 season efforts.

Billy Wood N (Jim Marshall III, post seven) has been thrice a bridesmaid in his series tries.

Friday’s second Bonus Trot grouping finds Dagger Hanover (Marshall III, post one) eyeing a second consecutive victory. The four-year-old Sierra Kosmos gelding, co-owned (and trained) by Eldo Leonelli along with Richard Clauberg, has hit the board in five of his six starts since requalifying.

Noted Glide (Forte, post three) finished third to series standout Whip A Way a week ago.

The evening’s final series soiree looms as the most competitive. Mac Machine (Driver TBA, post two) and Donnegal (Jeff Gregory, post five) both sport two wins in three prelim efforts. The former, a seven-year-old B J’s Mac gelding, tries for a fifth ’04 victory. Armand Bernard trains for co-owners Jean Bernard and Patrick Tortorello. The latter, a four-year-old son of Sierra Kosmos, has five wins and two seconds in his seven local work nights dating to last season’s Holiday Series. Bill Popfinger trains for owner Bill Mulligan.

Trytoptopme N (Steve Smith, post one) finally gets some post relief, while Solar News (Driver TBA, post seven) has a win and a pair of thirds in her three series tries.

The final Bonus Trot prelim dash goes as part of Saturday’s card. The $42,200 final of this series (plus a potential $10,000 bonus for the winning owners) goes a week from Friday, April 30.

Friday’s $13,500 Open Handicap Trot (seventh race) finds Blastaway Sahbra (Bouchard, post seven) ordered to the outside starting location. The six-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding, co-owned by Dean Davis and Brenda Sugg and trained by Mark Ford, returns after a fourth place finish in his Father Foley division across the river. Blastaway Sahbra has hit the board in 12 of his 15 seasonal starts, including all local ’04 tries (five wins, five seconds, one third).

CR Pants On Fire (Beckwith, post six) makes his first Westchester appearance since finishing second (to Banker Hall) in the 2001 final of the Yonkers Trot. The six-year-old Royal Troubador gelding has been taking on the best Northfield has to offer, with three wins in 11 seasonal efforts.

Great Thunder (Rejean Daigneault, post five) steps up after taking last week’s Preferred Handicap in the last stride, while She’s A Blizzard (Taylor Gower, post four) and Kash Hombre (Mike Forte, post three) were third and fourth, respectively, in the same event.

Saint Blaze (Greg Merton, post one) and Jetset Matt (Lou Paulucci, post two) complete the roster.

Friday’s evening simulcast schedule includes Northfield (post time 7:00), Pompano (7:00), Saratoga (7:00), Raceway (7:00), Buffalo (7:30), Meadowlands (7:30) and Maywood (8:40).

The Raceway’s Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday schedule (no live or evening simulcasting Thursday) remains in effect at least until April. First post remains at the usual 7:40 p.m.

Afternoon simulcasting continues to be offered around the NYRA schedule.

April’s evening/harness simulcast schedule includes Balmoral Park, Buffalo Raceway, Freehold Raceway, Hazel Park, Hoosier Park, Maywood Park, Meadowlands, the Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Northfield Park, Penn National, Pocono Downs, Pompano Park, Raceway Park, Saratoga Raceway and Vernon Downs.

For more information, or to obtain a calendar, please contact the Raceway at (914) 968-4200.